Source: Newbirth via flickr

I guess we all realize this – but – here’s evidence:  an 18-month study of the nation’s chain restaurants show that 96% of the meals served exceed the daily limits for fat, sodium, and calories as dictated by the United States Department Of Agriculture.   This information comes even as chains have promoted healthier eating options.

One of the surprises in the study included that fact that so-called “family style” restaurants fared worse than “fast food” places.  This contradicts the idea that sitting down and ordering a meal that often includes a salad and vegetables is better for you than a burger and fries.

The study also outlined that disparity between calorie-count in appetizers – which can often be double the amount than a full meal.

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Tom Shaw / Leon Halip, Getty Images

NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ is pulling out at all the stops for the finale of its 37th season. First it was announced that Mick Jagger would be both the host and musical guest. Then they said that Jagger would be backed by Foo Fighters and Arcade Fire. Now they’ve added another rock legend to the proceedings, guitarist Jeff Beck.

Jagger and Beck have known each other since the beginning of their careers, having come up through the London blues scene that centered around the Ealing Club, and Beck even auditioned to join the group after Mick Taylor left in 1975. However, they have not often recorded together. Beck played on Jagger’s first two solo albums, 1985′s ‘She’s the Boss’ and 1987′s ‘Primitive Cool.’ The two most recently performed together in February in front of President Obama for ‘In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues.’

Many people are hoping that Jagger will drop some big news about an upcoming Rolling Stones album and/or tour during his appearance on ‘SNL.’ Earlier today it was learned that Stones guitarist Ron Wood is keeping October and November free. Let’s not forget that Wood got his start as the bass player in the Jeff Beck Group in 1968. We’ve been wrong before, but we think this is now too much of a coincidence for it to not be happening.

Watch Mick Jagger and Kristen Wiig’s Promos for ‘SNL’

Source: UltimateClassicRock.com

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Disco legend Donna Summer has passed away from Cancer at the age of 63.  Sources close to the singer say she was surrounded by family in Florida.

Sources say that she succumbed to lung cancer that was caused in part by breathing toxic dust particles from the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks.

Disco queen Donna Summer dead at 63 | Fox News.

Matthew Wilkening

Chad Smith rejoined Chickenfoot tonight (May 16) at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre, appearing with them in concert for the first time on the tour in support of their latest album, ‘Chickenfoot III.’ While Smith is an official member of Chickenfoot, Kenny Aronoff has been handling drums throughout this tour due to Smith’s involvement with the Red Hot Chili Peppers current road trek.

Earlier in the evening, during the main set, Sammy Hagar made a passing reference to Chad, joking that, “if Chad was here, I’d kick his ass.” Hagar, characteristically, said it with a knowing wink, foreshadowing the events to come before a crowd that thought it seemed like a random thing to say.

Shortly after the band left the stage following the main set, a man in a Kiss t-shirt and backwards baseball cap sat down behind Aronoff’s drums. Many thought at first that this was Aronoff’s drum tech but the complexity of what he was playing (and the stage lights coming on) caused the fans to realize that it was Smith, and went nuts.

The other three members of the band came back onstage and launched into ‘Oh Yeah’ from the first Chickenfoot album. Hagar then turned to the drummer and said, “Chad, you haven’t had this much fun all year and you know it.” The band then broke into a cover of Jimi Hendrix‘s ‘Foxey Lady’ with a bit of ‘Manic Depression’ thrown in.

Chickenfoot closed out the show with their new single, ‘Different Devil,’ followed by a tribute to the late Ronnie Montrose with a cover of ’Rock Candy,’ during which Aronoff came back on stage and helped on humorously on the cymbols. Hagar said that Smith was only the second drummer to get the beat on ‘Rock Candy’ right (the first being Montrose’s Denny Carmassi). All five musicians took a bow at the end of the night, during which time our reporter on the scene took the historic, if somewhat blurry, picture above.

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Watch Chad Smith Rejoin Chickenfoot Onstage in Boston

Source: UltimateClassicRock.com

Source: Nixter via flickr

If you’ve noticed that one of Duluth’s skyline features is dark, you’re not seeing things;  The decorative lights on the Blatnik Bridge have been turned off – as workers perform maintenance on the bridge span.

During the two year project, the lights will remain off as workers work on extending the life of the bridge.  Navigational lights will remain on, however.

At one point, there was discussion to not replace the decorative lights that have graced the bridge structure the last ten years or so – due to budget concerns.  However, a new proposal to replace the lights with more energy-efficient lighting has passed and drivers should expect to see those operational by the fall of 2013.

For more details on the lights and the construction project on the Blatnik Bridge, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/blatnikbridge/

Sony Pictures/The Weinstein Co./Warner Bros.

If you’re ready to bring action and adventure to the comfort of your living room, June 2012 is packed with new DVD and Blue-ray releases to suit your needs. From ‘John Carter’ to ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,’ we give you the run down of all the movies you’ll be able to take home this month.

June 5

‘Act of Valor’ – Directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh. Starring Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, and Nestor Serrano. In this all-American actioner, real Navy SEALs were cast as an elite team on a mission to retrieve a kidnapped CIA operative.

‘John Carter‘ — Directed by Andrew Stanton. Starring Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, and Willem Dafoe. A Civil War veteran is transported to Mars and embarks on a journey to save a princess and her people from a nefarious man and his army.

‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’ — Directed by Brad Peyton. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Josh Hutcherson, and Michael Caine. A boy teams up with his mom’s husband to find his missing grandfather on a magical and mysterious island.

‘Safe House’ — Directed by Daniel Espinosa. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington. An up-and-coming CIA agent goes on the run with the fugitive he’s supposed to be guarding.

June 12

‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’ — Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Starring Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds, and Idris Elba. Johnny Blaze returns in this follow-up to ‘Ghost Rider,’ that pits Blaze against the Devil one more time.

‘A Little Bit of Heaven’ — Directed by Nicole Kassell. Starring Kate Hudson, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Kathy Bates. Diagnosed with cancer, a woman uses her sense of humor to face and cope with the unexpected.

‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ — Directed by Guy Ritchie. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Noomi Rapace. Sherlock Holmes and Watson return in this charming sequel that finds Holmes facing his most challenging, intelligent foe yet — the enigmatic Moriarty.

June 19

‘Big Miracle’ — Directed by Ken Kwapis. Starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski. When a group of whales become trapped and threatened by an ice formation, a reporter calls on his ex-girlfriend, a Greenpeace volunteer, to help save the day.

‘The FP’ — Directed by Jason and Brandon Trost. Starring Jason Trost, Lee Valmassy, and Art Hsu. Rival gangs battle for control of a park with a thrilling game of “Beat Beat Revolution” in this original comedy.

‘Jeff, Who Lives At Home’ — Directed by Jay and Mark Duplass. Starring Jason Segel, Ed Helms, and Judy Greer. After an unfortunate coincidence, Jeff leads his estranged brother on a day-long quest to see what else fate has in store for them.

‘Project X‘ — Directed by Nima Nourizadeh. Starring Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, and Jonathan Daniel Brown. Three high school teens throw the biggest party ever — a party to end all parties — in this found footage comedy from producer Todd Phillips.

‘Wanderlust‘ — Directed by David Wain. Starring Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, and Justin Theroux. Unemployed and desperate, George and Linda venture to a free-spirited commune to find happiness and purpose.

June 26

‘21 Jump Street‘ — Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Rob Riggle, and Brie Larson. Two mediocre cops are banished to an undercover program where they’re forced to return to high school in order to bust a drug operation.

‘The Artist’ — Directed by Michael Hazanavicius. Starring Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. A silent film star is faced with the changing landscape of cinema, but soon emerges from his depression when he finds love with a dancing actress and star of talking pictures.

‘Mirror Mirror‘ — Directed by Tarsem Singh. Starring Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, and Lily Collins. In this quirky twist on the fairy tale from visionary director Tarsem Singh, a princess must reclaim her rightful throne from an evil queen with the help of seven dwarfs.

‘Wrath of the Titans‘ — Directed by Jonathan Liebesman. Starring Liam Neeson, Sam Worthington, and Ralph Fiennes. Perseus’ saga continues in this sequel where he must rescue his father Zeus from the evil Hades.

Source: ScreenCrush.com

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The Reverend Wright scandal continues to plague the Obama campaign as new allegations of bribery surfaced over the weekend.  In an interview, Reverend Jeremiah Wright – the controversial pastor of the church Obama attended for more than 20 years – claims that the president’s campaign workers offered him “hush money” to disappear from the public eye.  Wright also claims that Obama himself visited with Wright and tried to persuade him into accepting the money.

$150,000 was the amount of money offered to Wright in return for bowing out of impending speaking engagements.

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eBay

It’s every young musician’s dream to have a gold or platinum album hanging on their walls. For most people, it requires years of hard work and dedication, but for one lucky collector, it only takes $1,300. That’s the going rate for an RIAA-certified triple platinum award that recently sold on eBay.

The downside to buying the award, of course, is that it’s not presented to you for having put your blood, sweat and tears on to the record. However, when it’s for an album as perfect as the Rolling Stones’ ‘Sticky Fingers,’ the coolness factor is amplified considerably.

Recorded in 1971, ‘Sticky Fingers’ is widely regarded as one of, if not the best, Rolling Stones album ever. It features such classics as ‘Brown Sugar,’ ‘Wild Horses’ and ‘Dead Flowers.’ Even the deeper cuts, like ‘Sway,’ ‘I Got the Blues’ and the stunning closer, ‘Moonlight Mile,’ would be career highlights for most bands.

‘Sticky Fingers’ was was their first record released on their own label, the first one to feature Mick Taylor, Brian Jones’ replacement, throughout the album and had the debut of the band’s soon-to-be iconic “tongue and lips” logo.

It is also famous (or infamous) for its cover, which featured a photograph of a male crotch and a working zipper on his jeans. The cover was designed by Andy Warhol.

This triple-platinum award is authenticated by the RIAA through a hologram on the plaque.

Source: UltimateClassicRock.com

Criterion

The film inspired by the Who‘s 1973 album ‘Quadrophenia’ is going to be re-released in the United States this summer. The new, high-def restoration will be available August 28 on DVD and Blu-Ray, and includes new interviews, commentary and behind-the-scenes footage.

The story follows “Jimmy,’ a teenager “dissatisfied with family, work, and love, who identifies with the fashionable, pill-popping, scooter-driving mods, a group whose opposition to the motorcycle-riding rockers leads to a climactic riot in Brighton (courtesy of Criterion.com).”

It’s a story of youthful rebellion staged around the band’s classic soundtrack. Songs like ’5:15,’ ‘The Real Me,’ ‘Dr. Jimmy’ and ‘Love, Reign o’er Me’ are just a few of the well-known cuts from the concept album that spawned the movie.

According to the band’s official website, the new release will include audio commentary from director Franc Roddam and director of photography Brian Tufano. Interviews with the Who’s co-manager and the sound engineer will also be available, in addition to on-set archival footage and a booklet featuring an essay by Nick James. Liner notes from Pete Townshend will also be available.

In November, the Who released a deluxe edition of the album. There has been talk of a 2012 tour based on the album, and of a sequel to the movie following Jimmy’s life after his Mod days.

Source: UltimateClassicRock.com

(Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Miller Beer has finally hired a genius, or a guy that was at a party with me. How many times have you been in a beer drinking game and lost because your beer wasn’t fast enough? Ok, so maybe just me.

Miller released a punch top beer can… it lets you drink your beer faster. The can has a second tab that can be opened to increase airflow and reduce glug.

The company calls it an improved, smoother way to deliver the taste. But a drug and alcohol expert calls it a recipe for danger for young drinkers.

“Miller Lite is giving beer lovers an even more enjoyable drinking experience with the breakthrough punch top can,” said Amy Breeze, director of innovation and activation for Miller Lite. “In our testing, consumers told us they prefer the punch top can three-to-one over the standard beer can because it’s more like drinking from a pilsner glass. We’re proud of our product and think everyone will have a blast exploring different ways to open it.”

The company’s advertising campaign encourages consumers to get creative with tools to open the punch top can. One advertisement sees consumers using items such as a spanner, drumstick and a fishing hook to open the tab.

All Miller Lite and Miller Genuine Draft 12 and 16 oz cans will feature the second tab.

Have you ever wondered how a band develops their “style?’ British bands for example, adopted most of their style from American bands or singers, since rock n roll was started in America. Of course there’s always an exception, and one was a band called the “Detours.”

The Detours opened for a famous British band called “Johnny Kidd & The Pirates”, who had the hit “Shakin All Over.”  Johnny had a unusual sound and style to his band, that being a single guitar, playing both lead and rhythm, and a bass guitar and drummer, which was totally unheard of in Britain at that time. Their style on stage was one of swinging arms, kicking legs, twirling microphones, and the Detours quickly adopted their style, finding it fit the band perfectly.

Now that they had their sound and style down pat, they felt a name change was in order. The Detours wanted something unusual and catchy, and settled on the name the “Who”…and that folks is  rock n roll Brit style.

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Source: lirena via flickr

Add this to the growing list of road construction projects in the Twin Ports this summer:  The northbound ramp off of the Blatnik Bridge to I-35 (the one that goes over Garfield Avenue) will close for maintenance on Monday, May 21st – from 9AM to 3:30PM.  However, as northbound traffic on the Blatnik Bridge (from Superior towards Duluth) is already closed for a construction project, impact will be minimal.

This project goes along with the Blatnik Bridge project, the continuing I-35 Mega Project (now on Year Three of a projected two year project), maintenance on the Bong Bridge, and multiple other projects in the Twin Ports.

Officials will tell you that  “it will be much nicer when it’s all done”.

More details at 511mn.org

eBay

The Beatles‘ Apple Records logo is nearly as iconic as the band it represents. When this rare 1968 promotional belt appeared on eBay, it sold just shy of $1,500. That’s a pretty penny to pay for an old leather belt, but try telling that to a Beatles collector.

Licensed by Apple Records Corp in London, England, the seller stresses that this is not a post-‘70s after-market version; this one is for real. The silver-colored heavy metal apple buckle is 2.75” x 2.75” and features a brushed metal finish. The leather belt’s backing is torn and some pieces of leather are missing due to wear but the outside of the belt was noted to be in “excellent” condition.

This belt was distributed to Apple insiders only in late-1968 and this one allegedly belonged to the wife of an attorney who worked for the Beatles. The husband is said to have given her many Apple Records promos over the years but this one was a favored piece as she proudly admitted to wearing it frequently over the years. A Certificate of Authenticity accompanied the sale.

Founded in 1968, Apple is “a company that we’re setting up which involves records, films and electronics which makes records and films work” says John Lennon before he cracks a smile. Apple, determined to operate differently than the standard record company, formed a family of sorts, signing their friends Badfinger, James Taylor and Ronnie Spector to name a few.

This logo symbolizes more than Beatles. It’s a statement about all the Apple bands, the music and a long lost era – so in the name of high classic rock fashion, this original 1968 promo belt might be worth the money if one were to wear it on multiple special occasions.

Source: UltimateClassicRock.com

(Photo by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images)

Have you ever believed in something and fought for it. A man from Yarmouth, Maine will be buried in a coffin made from a tree he fought to protect. He used every trick in the book in order to save the tree, and did, to an extent, but both lost their fight.

The man was a professional logger but spent a large chunk of his life protecting New England’s tallest elm tree

The 217-year-old tree nicknamed “Herbie” eventually succumbed to Dutch elm disease. Over the weekend,  the 103-year-old man died as well.

“Frank cared for Herbie for 52 years, and now Herbie will care for Frank forever,” his son, Dick Knight, told the Boston Herald.

Over the years, Knight worked to protect other local trees as well, though his works will forever be tied to the relationship he had with Herbie. After the tree fell, its wood was used to make several items, including an electric guitar. Knight did not know that some of Herbie’s wood was being set aside for his coffin, designed by local custom furniture maker Chris Becksvoort.

And now he is going to be buried in a special casket built from the wood of the tree.

I see it as only fitting, it reminds me of the old Shel Silverstein book, “The Giving Tree”

(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

The annual Duluth Kidney Walk begins at Bayfront Festival Park at 9 a.m. Saturday with check-in. The noncompetitive 3K walk begins at 10 a.m. I will help to host the event and would love to see you there. They would like you to have a team and raise some money, but really, if this is the first you have heard about it, just come.

The event also features music from local bands, food, children’s games with prizes, a health and wellness area, silent auction and complimentary massages.

To register for the walk, go to www.kidneywalk.org or call (800) 596-7943. On-site registration will also be accepted. The event is free and open to the public, although the National Kidney Foundation encourages participants to raise a minimum of $100 to receive an official Kidney Walk T-shirt.

Money raised from the walk will support a free kidney health screening in Duluth on Sept. 25, early detection programs, research, professional and patient education, and organ donation advocacy.

Visit the Website or see the info below.

2012 DULUTH KIDNEY WALK

(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

This Sunday there will be a Solar eclipse, and this time most of the National Parks will be able to share in the excitement. Unlike some of years past, it’s been a gathering on a hill or great vantage point that people have enjoyed a solar eclipse.

Thirty-three national parks will see the full effect. Many western parks will be offering an array of events for their guests, ranging from placing telescopes out for viewing up to a full-scale astronomy festival, some will feature speakers, or experts to help people understand what they are seeing and enjoy it safely.

“We’re lucky that so many parks happen to lie within the path of the annular eclipse,” Grand Canyon park ranger Marker Marshall told OurAmazingPlanet.

A grand event

The Grand Canyon park staff, along with the help of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, will be setting up solar telescopes and helping people safely view the eclipse. NASA scientists will be present to talk about the eclipse, as well as recent lunar findings. They will also have eclipse glasses for sale and will demonstrate how to use binoculars to safely set up a projection of the eclipse on a piece of paper. After the eclipse, the park will host a star party.

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Source: Dougtone via flickr

As the summer vacation season starts to heat up, Northlanders heading to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport should know that there are new ways to get current parking information around the terminals.

MSP’s new SurePark features allows three different ways to get that information:

* Go to mspairport.com/parking/surepark to see availability status for both terminals at MSP

* Call (877) FLY-PARK for pre-recorded information

* Request a text message with info, by visiting mspairport.com/parking/surepark.aspx

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

With the unemployment rate being what it is, a lot of people these days are being forced to work for minimum wage. But exactly how much you get could depend largely on what state you’re in.

The federal minimum wage is currently set at $7.25 per hour, but since it’s not a mandate, not all states pay that rate, while others pay more.

Raising a state’s minimum wage is often left to voters. For example, Missouri residents will decide later this year whether to bump workers’ pay from $7.25 to $8.25 per hour, and the measure would also require tipped employees to receive at least 60 percent of that rate, a 10 percent increase over the current standard.

Some restaurant owners are unhappy about the proposal, which would of course cost them more money, and other opponents say raising a state’s minimum wage can cause businesses to hire fewer employees, which would especially hurt younger workers — something that’s hotly contested by many economists.

So where are minimum wages highest and lowest?

States with highest minimum wage

1. Washington — $9.04
2. Oregon — $8.80
3. Vermont — $8.46
4. (tie) Nevada, Connecticut, Illinois — $8.25

States with lowest minimum wage

1. Wyoming — $5.15
2. Minnesota — between $5.25 and $6.15, depending on the annual revenues of a business
3. Georgia — $5.15
4. Arkansas — $6.25 (as long as the business has at least four employees)

[ABC News]